COMMITTEE ON DISASTER RECOVERY AND 
INFRASTRUCTURE 
11/13/2025-AMENDED AND REPORTED OUT TO THE FLOOR 
10/16/2025-REPORTED OUT TO THE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND JUDICIARY 
 
BILL NO. 
36-0135 
 
Thirty-Sixth Legislature of the Virgin Islands 
 
 
 
August 26, 2025 
 
 
 
An act amending title 29 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, section 294 regarding expedited 
building permits for developers 
 
 
 
PROPOSED BY: 
 
Senator Kenneth L. Gittens 
Sponsors: Avery L. Lewis, Novelle E. Francis, Jr.  
and Angel L. Bolques, Jr. 
Co-sponsor: Marise C. James 
 
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands: 
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SECTION 1.  Title 29 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 5, section 294 is amended by adding 
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the following subsection (h): 
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“(h) Expedited Building Permits.  The Department of Planning and Natural 
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Resources (DPNR) may offer expedited building permits for developers who request and 
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pay for expedited processing. 
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(1) 
The Commissioner shall establish a fee schedule for expedited building 
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permits based on the complexity, scope, size of the project, and the urgency of the 
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request. 
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(2) 
The developer requesting the expedited permit must pay the entire plan 
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review fee in full, and 75 percent of the total permit fee prior to the commencement 
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2 
 
of the expedited review process.  The balance of the permit fee, subject to 
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recalculation by DPNR, must be paid upon receipt of the permit.  Payments for 
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expedited permits will be collected by the DPNR and all fees collected will be 
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allocated towards improving the efficiency of permit processing and related 
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services. 
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(3) 
DPNR  shall provide a clear and transparent outline of the expedited 
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permit fee structure, including specific rates for different types of development 
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projects on the Department’s official website.  DPNR shall notify the public, 
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including all interested developers, of any changes to the fee schedule. 
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BILL SUMMARY 
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This bill establishes the framework for allowing the DPNR to offer expedited building 
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permits for a fee. 
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BR25-0375/July 22, 2025/CBM 
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594\Amendment 36-594 (REVISED) - DRAFTED ON YELLOW.docx 
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